Expansion-valve.



B. S. MCCLELLAN.

ExPAuusuoN vuuuvE.l APPLICATION FILED JAN.4|1915 v 1,300,182, u Patented Apr. 8, 1919.

l uuu BENJAMIN. s.v staatsman, or ontlenen, rtnmois.

To @ZZ whom t may concern.;

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN'S. MCCLEL- f LAN, a citizen of the United Sta-tes,` and a resident of theloity of Chicago, in the county of Cook and `State of- Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in EX pansion-Valves; and lf do hereby' declare that'the following is -a full, clear, and VeXac-t descriptiony thereof', reference being'had to the accompanying draWi'nga-and'tothe characters o'reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification. v

This invention relates` to iuid pressure orV expansion valves and'fmoreparticularly to that type of such valves thatfare adapted-for use in refrigerating Vsystems andi/designed for controlling the passage' of Ythezfliquid ammonia or fluid from ,the'high tofthe low V pressure passages ofsuchvvalvesand, in which latter passagesthe liquid 'ammoniais convertedlinto agaseous form. y

Amongthe objects of theinventionis to' improve the construction of valves of' the kind referred to, inthe'several particulars as will hereinafter appear'and to provide in particular, a fixed and movable valve member, the latter being provided with a valve stem having an axial or longitudinal iuid passage closed at both ends, there being lateral outlet and :inlet ports in the valve stem and opening into said aXial luidpassage intermediate the ends thereof. The inlet port when open, allows the liquid ammonia to liow from the high into the low pressure passages of the 'valve and saidfinlet port `will be completely open, only when `the movable a pressure `regulating or expansion vvalve constructed in accordance with :my invention; l. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transversey sectional view taken on the broken line 2-'-2 of F ig. 1; 3 is a view in side elevation "ofthe movable vvalve member of my valve; and

Fig. L is a verticalgsectional View of-an or expansion valve embodying the features of my invention, 10` indicates the valve cas-4r ing, which, as shown, comprises two @parts i 11, and'l2,lsaidzparts when assembled and A l. connectedtogether .frmingsaid valve case` ingl As illustrated, the part 11 is Athe upper- 15 Vinto whichopenffrom the sides of the p Patented Apvrl'S, 1919. Application l'ed January 4, 1915.. `Serial No'. 351. l i i l v` mostone' and the part 12 is the lowermost Y one,said parts being" secured together by clamp 'foralike bolts13, linserted through Y Y registering bolt" holes in saidl parts. Clamp nuts 14, ladare applied" upon the "screwl" threaded ends of said boltsv as shown in Fig. vf1.- Thevalve casingpart'lQ is provided ywith a centrally disposed annular val'vech'amber shown, said' fluid .passages-16,217 open outwardly through they sides of the valve casV ing, andeach'passage is adapted to Yopen intoh and have connnunication with'a suitduits vwith said fluid passages 16, 17, the i' mentary external screw threads On'the end portions` of sald'pipes.-

n Located within said valve chamber 15, is l an endwise or Ivertically movable valve member 18. Said movable valve member 18 comprises an .enlarged circular head 19 and a depending stem 20, theflatter having a lower reduced -end portion 21. j A downwardly Jfacing shoulderQQis provided intermediate the ends 4of the valve stem, and said shoulder is'ormed" at the junctionofjthe enlarged" f upper part of the valve "stem with the-renv ducedlower part 21 vthereof.v Asn shown,v v,

the part 21 of the valve/stem cylindric in form; Thefbottom vwall 12a`10f the valve chamber. l5 is provided livith anlupwardly` der seats or contactsfwhen the movable valve member-18 is at fthe'limit of 'itsfdownward' moi'fementj The surfacey 23" constitutes in effect, a valve seat forthe movable yvalve ,member18, Said'bottom-1wall 12"is 'prog vided with a vertical hole or cylindric bore able pipefor conduit (not. shown) the end 'of' `which 1s. inserted. into suchfpassage. For the purpose of connecting' the pipesor con` facingisurface 23,Y against which the shoul#V the seat 2id/into the valve chamber 15. Said bore 24 opens at its lower end into a fluid passage'25, the latter being formed in said valve casing part 12 and opening outwardly through the bottom of the same. Said fluid passage 25 is completely closed at its upper end by said bottom wall 12a except for the bore-24.V Said fluid passage 25 is adapted to open into and have communication with a suitable pipe or conduit (not shown) the end of which is inserted into said passage. Asshown, the wall of said passage 25 is provided with. internal screw threads adapted; to receive similar external screw-threads on the end portionv of such pipe.

The cylindric end portion 21 of the valve stemt 20 extends downward through, and is adaptedtoi slide endwise in said bore 24. The length of'said `stem 21 is such that its lower end extends into said Huid passage 25 whem the movable valve member 18 rests on saidseat23.V In the verticalor upward and downward movement of said movable valve member 18,the'stem 21 thereof slides or moves endwise in saidl bore 24'. Said stem 21 fits snug'l-y yet slidably in said bore 24, so as to prevent leakage between such parts. As shownin Fig. 1, the valve stem 20 is provided withfan axial or longitudinal passage 26 closed at both ends. Said valve stem is provided between its head 19 and shoulder 22 with a'lateral outlet port 27 opening at its outerend intoV the valve chamber 15 and at its inner; end into the longitudinal passage 26. Said outlet port 2,7 establishes communication at all times between said longitudinal' passagey 26 and said valve chamber 15. Saidv valve stem is further provided between its lower end and shoulder 22, with a lateral inlet port 28 opening at its inner end into saidL axial passage 26 and at itsouterend through the cylindric wall of said valve stem 21 and provides at certain times Vcommunication between said longitudinal passagef26 and the fluid passage 25.

lVhen theY movable valve member 18 is in the position shownI in Fig. 1, the same rests on the-seat 23'and the inlet port 28 is below the lower margin of the eylindriel bore 24. In such position of the parts, the inlet port 28- opens into the l'luid passage 25, and communication is` established betweensaid passage-andithe valve chamber 15. On the other hand,y whenthe movable valve member 18 is raised upward a suflieient distance to bring the inlet port 28 entirely above the lower margin of. and within the cylindric bore 24, saidinletport28 is closed by the cylindric wallfof said boreA and communication is cut od between the fluid passage 25 and the valve chamber 15. kAs illustrated, the longitudinal or axial passage 26 is closed at its lower end by a screw or other plug 29.

Located between the valve easing parts 11}and 12 is a horizontal, flexible diaphragm 30. The latter is clamped into position between such parts by said clamp bolts 13, 13 which extend through suitable holes in saidI diaphragm; The' valve chamber 15 opens upwardly through the top wall of said part 12 and said diaphragm extends over and closes such opening. The central portion of the diaphragm is, therefore', opposite the seat 23. The head 19 of the movable valve member 18 bears upwardly against said diaphragm 30. As shown, said head 19 is circular in form and is provided with a marginal annular flange 31, which has vertical sliding engagement with the wall surrounding the opening in the top wall of said valve casing part 12.

The upper valve casing part 11 is provided with a chamber or recess 32, the latter openingdownward` through the bottom wall of said part 11. As shown, said diaphragm 30 extends over and closes the lower open end of said chamber 32. Located in said chamber 32 is al helical spring 33 which bears at itslower end against anr annular member 34, the latter being in said chamber and resting upon the said diaphragm 30. Saidannular member 34 is provided with, an upwardly extending annular marginal flange 35y which forms with the body oi said member 34 an upwardly opening socket in which the lower end of the spring 33 is located.

Said annular liange 35 bears against theside walls of the chamber 32, and guides the member 34 in its vertical or upward and downward movement, under the expansive action of said spring 33- and the inliuence of the variations of pressure in the valve chamber 15. At the base of and surrounding the flange 35, is an annular, upwardly facing. shoulder 36, adapted in an excessive upward movement of the annular member 34 to come into contact with a fixed, downwardly facing, stop shoulder 37 within the chamber 32. When such parts are in contact, the member 34 is held against further upward movement. The upper end, of springk 33 bears against an annular member 38, which lits loosely and slidably within said chamber 32. Said member 38 is provided with a depending marginal annnular flange 38a which forms with the body of said member 38, a downwardly opening socket in which the upper end of said spring 33 is located. In order to vary the tension of the spring 33, so as to increase the amount of pressure it exerts on the diaphragm 30, and consequently on the movable valve member 18, or in other words, to increase or dccrease the degree of pressure that the movable valve member 18 must overcome in ordcr to raise and close, or partially close the inlet port 28, I provide an endwise adjustable member 39, which, asy shown, has the form of a stem extending into the upper part of the chamber 33, through a vertical openmember 18. Should the eXcess pressure in the valve chamber 15 be relieved before the inlet port 28 is completely closed or entirely above the lower margin of the bore 24, the movable valve member 18 will immediately move downward to further open said port 28. Manifestly, the valve 10 is automatic in its action and under variations of pressure controls the admittance of the liquid ammonia into the'low pressure passages of the valve. Y

As'illustrated (see Fig. 3), the inlet port 28 is elongated lengthwise of the valve Stem 20. The* ends of said port merge ofi", in a sense, into a point, so that the lower end of the inlet port 28 is narrower laterally than the port at its center. This insures aV gradualv lessening of the size of the opening afforded by the port 28 in the closing of the inlet port, and a gradual widening or increasing of the size of said port 28 in the opening of the saine.

The'inlet port 28l is located at. one point only circumferentially of the valve stem and opening outwardly atl such point through the eylindric wall' of said valve stem. Said inlet port 28.I is of such narrow dimensions laterally, or in a direction circumferentially of the valvezstem, that the opening afforded Vfor the passage of the liquid ammonia, is

Substantially such as that formed' by acircular aperture. By reason of thisfaet, when the inlet port 28 is only partially below the lower margin of the bore 24, the opening dior the passage of liquid ammonia is only partially open and just enough liquid flows .into the low pressure passages as will be readily converted into a gaseous form. Flooding of the low pressure passages 15, 16 and 17 is, therefore, prevented. When the inlet port 28 is moved entirely below the lower margin of the bore 24, the inlet port is open to its fullest extent and affords a full passage for the liquid ammonia. Said inlet port 28 is completely and fully open, only, when the valve stem is moved endwise downward to the lower limit of its do-wnward movement. Any endwise movement of the valve stem short of a full downward movement thereof, will not eiect a complete opening of said inlet port 28. Any endwise movement of the valve stem between the positions when the inlet port 28 is completely closed or opened will effect only a partial opening of said .inlet port. Mani- Y festly, the endwise movement of the valve stem between the fully closed and opened position of the inlet port 28`insures a degree of control of the passage of liquid ammonia into the low pressure passages that is automatically controlled and regulatedV accurately. The opening afforded bythe inlet port 28, as the .latter is moved upward under the variations ofpressure in the low pressurepassages is decreased in size and areaandthe amount of liquid ammonia that flowsv into the low pressure passages is proportionate-to the size of the opening afford edf forx the passage of the liquid and the.

pressure required. In the downward movement of theinlet port 28 the opening aii'orded by the latter is increased lin size as the stem moves downward and the How oi liquid ntothe lower pressure passages is increased proportionate to the increasing side of the open-ing'. Such would not be the case, should the valve stem be provided. with an outwardly opening annular groove encircling said stem and opening into fluid passages through the valve stem, as such iiuidl pas sages would: be i'ull'y and completely open whenv the' peripheral' groove is moved only partially below the lower margin of the bore. It follows,.that with a peripheral groove,

the si'Ze of the opening afforded by the iiuidv passages is not changed in the end'wise movement ofthe val've stem and as a result, the low pressure passages are likely to be Hooded as the amount of liquid that flows into the low pressure passages is constant no matter how far the groove extends below the lower margin of the bore. The inlet port 28 is smaller in transverse area than the like area of the outlet port of the movable valve member.

The Huid passage. 26 being within the walls of the valve stem, the passage afforded for the liquid ammonia from the high to the low pressure passages of the valve is not betweenk the valve stem and the walls of the cylindric bore.

The bottom wall of the valve chamber 15 constitutes the fixed valve member and the valve member 18, the movable valve member of the valve 10.

In Fig. 4, I have shown the movable valve member 18 provided with two lateral outlet ports 43, 44, both substantially alike in form and diametrically opposite each other. Vi'vith two outlet ports, the gas enters the valve chamber 15 on opposite sides of the valve stem and the pressure against the valve stem is on opposite sides thereof. This insures a balancing of the valve 18 as the stem thereof' is not forced against but one side of the bore 24. Thus, an uneven wearing of the parts is prevented.

A fluid pressure orlexpansion valve embodying the features of my invention may be variously modified with regard to its details of construction and arrangen'ient of parts and I do not desire to be limited to the specific details and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, except in so far as is pointed out in the appended claims;

I claim as my invention:

1. An expansion valve adapted for use in a refrigerating system, comprising a valve casing having high and low pressure pas- Ol l 'Cai

With ay stem having sliding engagement Withsaid fixed valve member, said stem being provided with an axial both ends and having an outlet port establisliiiig communication between said low stem having an inlet port adaptedto establish communication,between said high pressure passage and said axial passage, said inlet port eoaoting With a margin of said xed valve member in the eiidvvise movement of said movable valve me1nber,'sotliat endivise movement of the latter Will effect the opening and closing ot' said inlet port7 said movable valve member being subject to the pressure iii said low pressiirepassage iiiv a direction to shift said movable valve member into its closed position, and means aoting on said movable valve'member in opposition to the pressure exerted thereon.

2. A valve of the oharaoter described, comprising` a valve easing having inlet and outlet passages, a liXed valve member interposed between said passages and separating one from the other, said fixed valve member being provided with abore, a movable valve passage Closed at valvemember and establishing communica# tion between said axial and outlet passages [said stem being provided with an inlet port pressure passage and said axial passage, said member located above'said fixed valvemenr ber and havinga stem' slidably mounted 'in said bore,-"said stem being provided with anl axialipassage closed at'both ends and having an outlet port located above said fixedVv oaenifno` into said axialoassafre and bein 2:: b

moved above and below the lower edge of said bore in the 'endvvise movement of' said movable valve member, a flexible diaphragm located above and inoontaot with said mov able valve member, a spring above and bearing downward 'against said diaphragm, a

spring surrounding said stem and bearing at one end against said movable valve memberand at the other end against said fixed valve` member, and means for varying the tension of said first named spring.

`In testimony, that' LBENJAMIN Sy. MC-

OLELLAN, claim the fregoing as my inven- `tion and aliix my signature iii thepresenoe of` tvvo Witnessesthisf3lst day of December,q191/l.A f p BENJAMINSQ MCCLELLAN, Witnesses sf. Y EUGENE C. WANN', CLARA L.r PEOrLEs,

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' Washington, D. G. v 

